SketchUp for Woodworkers Valley Woodworkers

August 8, 2013

  Introduction to SketchUp

  Benefits for Woodworkers

  Important Features and Understandings

  References

  Some Actual Usage and Practice

•  Computer software for creating 2 &3D drawings

•  Relatively easy to learn and operate •  Generates detailed and accurate drawings

•  Interacts with CAD programs (e.g. Autocad)

•  Operates on Windows and Mac Systems (and Linux too)

•  Works Effectively with Photos (jpeg files)

  Accurate Measurements – lengths, angles, scale, measure tool and protractor

  Draws Edges and Faces with simple tools – line, rectangle, circle, arc, polygon, free hand

  Inferencing – direction (XYZ), point, surface, intersection, parallel, perpendicular, tangent, center, midpoint

  Copies and Arrays – Move Tool

  Follow-Me – Extrude 2D Object

  Push/Pull – 2D object to 3D

  Offset

  Rotate

  Scale

  Model Organization:   Groups

  Components

  Layers

  Outliner

  Reload

  File Exchange:   Export 2D Vector (PDF) &Raster (JPEG, TIFF) images

  Import/Export CAD files (DWG, DXF)

  Export 3D models,

  Import 2D Raster Images – photo, textures, photo match

  Viewing– 2d/3d drawing space on a monitor – perspective and isometric views

  Drawing Tools

  Construction Tools

  Modification Tools

  Presentation Aids

  Scenes and Layers

  Styles

  Dimensions and Labels

  Scenes

  Styles

  Section Planes

  Look Around

  Walk through

•  Match Photo Tool

•  3D Warehouse – place for getting and giving models

•  Plug-Ins – handy tools developed by others and available through built-in Plug-in Manager

•  Sandbox for Terrain Integration

•  Google Earth Integration

  Visualize final product or project

  Verify construction methods

  Check dimensions

  Evaluate alternative designs

  Aid future projects with available existing models.

  Access to models by others (3D Warehouse)

  Interact within Woodworking community – see later reference

  Develop initial concepts and dimension

  Develop designs from pictures or existing drawings

  Simulate actual projects by assembling piece by piece

  Examine projects from all visual angles

  Give prospective clients project visualization

  Generate working drawings

  Download designs by other for use or modification

  Provide project parts and cut lists

•  Know Axes color reference,Red = X, Green = Y, Blue = Z

•  Use Built-in Inferences to aid in accurate drawing:

•  Use measuring box to define exact size

•  How Drawing and Modification Tools Work

•  Save Work Frequently

•  Always Draw on Layer 0

•  Once an Object is 3D make Component

•  Move Component to Layer where it Resides

•  Complete Model before Creating Scenes, Textures, Dimensions

•  Key to effective and efficient design

•  Keeps objects separated so that modifications don’t affect other objects in the model

•  Make duplication simple

•  Components can be stored and used in other projects

•  Copying including generating multiple copy equally space or distributed between two ends

•  Flipping along axes

•  Intersecting faces, groups and components

•  Scaling objects

  SketchUp for Dummies – Excellent getting started book

  Woodworking Sketch-Up Books:   Popular Woodworking – Robert Lang on-line tutorials and

5 Books (hardcopy and electronic)   Fine Woodworking – Tim Killen and Dave Richards on-

line blog (Design, Click, Build) plus on-line tutorials, several paper and eBooks

  Internet Sites – see list   Wood Magazine   Woodsmith and Shop Notes   Lumberjocks   Woodwhisperer   American Woodworker

  Download at http://sketchup.com

  Current versions:   SketchUp 2013 Make = Free

  SketchUp 2013 Pro = $590

  Free version does 80 to 90% of paid version

  But Pro version includes a very valuable Layout and Style Builder programs

  See comparison later in presentation   Many, many others

  Basic Drawing Techniques for Woodworkers

  Past Club Project - Sheraton Table Drawing

  Some Recent Examples of Mine   Outfeed Table/Workbench

  Corner Entertainment Table

  Workshop Layout